Chelsea and Tottenham will battle it out to sign Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

Chelsea have had an offer for teenage West Brom midfielder Isaiah Brown rejected.

West Ham are set to mount another raid on Anfield as they bid to land Stewart Downing, following their capture of Andy Carroll last month.

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

Christian Benteke has put Manchester United and Manchester City on alert by handing in a transfer request at Aston Villa.

Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has reminded fans the Reds are achieving success through a number of quality midfielders rather than one dominant force.

LIVERPOOL ECHO

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes Spanish new boys Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto will make a big impression at Anfield this season.

Arouna Kone signed off his Wigan career with an FA Cup winner's medal in May. Now Everton's new £6.5m striker wants to be a winner again with his new Blues team-mates.

NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE

Newcastle United star Sammy Ameobi could be on his way to Bolton Wanderers for the first half of the season.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has insisted he is still the boss after a turbulent close season.

THE JOURNAL

Alan Pardew has admitted Darren Bent and Loic Remy are on the shortlist of players to be the two new strikers he wants next season.

SUNDERLAND ECHO

Sunderland's transfer plans suffered a double set-back yesterday after Benjamin Mendy agred to join Marseille and Gino Peruzzi's representatives called a halt to negotiations over a proposed move to the Stadium of Light.

Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday are leading the chase for Sunderland discard Phil Bardsley.

Sunderland new boy Cabral says he rejected offers from Champions League clubs to be part of Paolo Di Canio's regime at the Stadium of Light.

EVENING GAZETTE

Tony Mowbray is hoping to further strengthen his first team squad before next week's first official pre-season friendly against Morecambe.

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has dismissed speculation claiming the Swans are on the verge of signing former Wigan defender Ronnie Stam.

Leon Britton believes Swansea City will fire a major statement of intent with their record signing of Wilfried Bony.

Pre-season fitness drills are a gruelling certainty of any footballer's summer - but Jonjo Shelvey is happy to endure the pain with his new Swansea City team-mates.

BIRMINGHAM MAIL

West Bromwich Albion target Salomon Kalou has admitted there is interest in him - but revealed he is no rush to leave Lille.

Anderlecht have identified West Bromwich Albion's Claudio Yacob as a potential summer target. But the Baggies midfielder is considered an important part of Steve Clarke's first-team plans and certainly not for sale.

Ron Vlaar has kicked off Aston Villa's pre-season tour with a candid admission that he must do better during the forthcoming campaign.

EXPRESS & STAR

Aston Villa today steeled themselves for a summer battle over Christian Benteke after the striker slapped in a transfer request.

West Brom were today braced for a fight over Isaiah Brown after rejecting Chelsea's opening bid for the teenager.

YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

Leeds United target Matt Mills' future still appears to be firmly away from Bolton Wanderers - despite fresh reports suggesting he is happy to stay and fight for his first-team place at the Reebok.

THE PINK UN

While Grant Holt did not get to say goodbye to the Norwich City fans that loved him for four years, he hopes the chance will come during his time at Wigan.

THE DAILY ECHO

If Saints want to sign Brazilian international Leandro Damião this summer, it appears they will face stiff competition from elsewhere.

THE SENTINEL

Mark Hughes is planning to take a hard look at his Stoke squad over the next two weeks before deciding whether to bring in more new players.

Stoke are taking a look at a highly-rated Belgian youngster, but home-grown talent is also flourishing at the City academy.

THE BOLTON NEWS

Jermaine Beckford's long-running move from Leicester City is drawing closer to completion.

Wanderers are running out of time to enter the race to sign Jay Spearing.

Wanderers may investigate the loan market this summer - but only for the most attractive propositions!

LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH

Blackburn Rovers have agreed a £1.75m fee with Liverpool for midfielder Jay Spearing.

EVENING TIMES

Lee McCulloch fears wonderkid Lewis Macleod could be targeted by predatory Barclays Premier League clubs next season if he continues to star for Rangers.

Ally McCoist's summer signing spree has left the Rangers manager facing several selection dilemmas ahead of the new season.

till I suppose it still gives him at least another year in the job. By the time it comes around , he can always make up another excuse. First it was 3 months , then a year .....Next year ? Whats his excuse with Van Persie ?